Upper GI Tract Flashcards
When does LOS relax in the process of swallowing
As soon as swallowing is initiated
What is the course of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve
It goes around the aortic arch
Two main groups of dysphagia and how do they differ
Oropharyngeal => vast majority is neurological, food can’t go into oesophagus
Oesophagal=> food is stuck in oesophagus (typically report something stuck at back of sternum)
eg. motility disorders or mechanical obstruction like cancer??
What does cough in GORD indicate
Acid goes as far as back of throat and gets into respiratory system ⇒ Hoarse voice, cough and bronchospasm
What does weight loss in upper GI symptoms suggest
Cancer or severe motility syndroms
What is barium swallow more commonly used for and what does it show
Monitor motility of oesophagus, diagnose presence of hiatus hernia
First line investigation for cancer suspicion
Urgent upper GI endocsopy
What should be used for staging of oesophageal cancer and what is good to see spread of tumour
Endoscopic ultraspund, CT (thorax and abdomen) or CT -PET
What is the narrowing of the oesophagus called
Stricture
Causes of benign strictures
GORD, Barret’s more common causes
- Extrinsic compression from tumours in the mediastinum or lung
- Post-radiotherapy ⇒ Mainly for malignant disease
- Anastomotic ( following surgery / oesophagectomy)
- Corrosive ( accidental or suicidal ingestion) ⇒ can leas to extensive, complex strictures and may end up with oesophagectomy
Main treatment of strcitures
- Proton pump inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole) ⇒ If not severe, especially if it is mainly due to significant inflammation
- Dilatation (best treatment)
- Push dilators
- Celestin gradual dilators up to 18mm ⇒ Inserted with a guard wire passed across the stricture, and gradually dilate
- Push dilators
- Savary-Gillard polyvinyl dilators ⇒ balloon
What is one main risk factor of GORD and when do symptoms get more obvious
Obesity, bending over
Two main kind of reflux and how they vary
- Reflux with Transient lower oesophageal relaxations
- More common
- Daytime reflux
- Small or no Hiatus hernia (very rare)
- Often no oesophagitis ⇒ As acid usually cleared by oesophagus quite fast
- Reflux with low lower oesophageal sphincter pressures
- Less common (20%)
- Nocturnal reflux
- Often large hiatus hernia
- More severe oesophagitis ⇒ Due to presence of large amounts of acid in oesophagus over long periods
- Barrett’s ⇒ Chronic exposure to acid
Possible history of GORD
- Weight gain ⇒ LOS infiltrated by fat so not as effective
- Lifestyle and diet- citrus food, fizzy drinks, chocolate, spicy foods, tomato sauce
What are the possible signs of hiatus hernia
- Regurgitation of food and fluid ⇒ Sphincter is really loose, not that common
- Probable Hiatus Hernia ⇒ Sphincter almost disappears , more prone to acid reflux and regurgitation
Possible treatment for GORD and Barret’s
Mechanical, surgical, lifestyle
Surveillance vs. Ablation using balloon to kill cells for Barrett’s ( so it doesn’t become malignant)
GORD:
Long term Tx with PPIs- main measure
Lifestyle- smoking, alcohol, diet, weight reduction
Surgical - fundoplication to tighten sphincter in younger ppl
What does equal dysphagia to liquid and solids in younger ppl suggest
Achalasia
What is the cause of achalasia
Infiltration of esoinophils - failure of LOS relaxation and absence of peristalsis.
Degenerative lesion of myenteric plexus which innervates oesophagus
Investigation and diagnosis of achalasia
UGE, but may be normal, Barium swallow for diagnosis, dilates oesophagus with hypertonic LOS
Manometry to confirm
Treatment for achalasia
Botox for older patients to paralyse LOS
Endoscopic pneumatic dilatation for young, middle age- to dilate and disrupt the LOS
Surgical Myotomy
- cut open LOS to open lower end of oesophagus, but longer lasting effect
POEM- small incision in the wall of the oesophageus, cut LOS and clip the incision
What is a likely cause of food bolus obstruction with dysphagia
Eosinophilic esophagitis - common in younger ppl also
History of eosinophilic oesophagitis
Atopy